(22nd Marines: Navy Unit Commendation, February 17 to 22, 1944)
On February 18, 1944, the 22nd Marines under the command of Colonel John T. Walker, participated in the Battle of Eniwetok, in the northwest area of the Marshall Islands, capturing the islands of Engebi in 6 hours
From Wikipedia:
Battle of Eniwetok, Marshall Islands - February 1944
Eniwetok Island is a long, narrow island, widest at the western end, and very narrow on the eastern end. A road existed on the lagoon shore on the western half of the island, where the settlement was located. This topography meant that defense in depth was impossible. On Eniwetok itself, the Japanese had 779 Army troops, 24 civilians and five naval personnel all under the command of Lt Col. Hashida Masahiro.
At 07:10 (UTC+12) on 18 February two cruisers and two destroyers opened fire on Japanese positions from the lagoon side of Eniwetok. At 07:40 (UTC+12) a third destroyer opened fire to the east of the landing beaches and at 08:10 (UTC+12) a fourth destroyer also commenced bombardment. At 08:10 (UTC+12) the naval gunfire was halted for 15 minutes to allow for a carrier aircraft attack. The first troops landed at 09:17 (UTC+12), but the initial landings immediately ran into problems. The short naval bombardment meant that many Japanese positions remained intact, and the American LVTs could not scale an 8 feet (2.4 m) sand dune just inland. These early problems were quickly overcome, and the Americans reached the ocean shore of the island by 11:45 (UTC+12). A Japanese counter-attack, carried out by 300-400 men, hit the western part of the American line, which was supported by mortar fire. The attack was over by 12:45 (UTC+12), and had failed to break the Americans.
At 14:25 (UTC+12) the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines landed to push towards the western end of the island, and by nightfall had reached the southwest corner of the island. The Marine commander, Colonel Ayers, ordered that the attack continue through the night to eliminate the Japanese pocket in the northwest corner.
The fighting in the west came to an end on the morning of 20 February; however, the island was not declared secured until 21 February. 37 Americans were killed or missing and 94 wounded. The Japanese had 800 dead and 23 prisoners.
On February 18, 1944, the 22nd Marines under the command of Colonel John T. Walker, participated in the Battle of Eniwetok, in the northwest area of the Marshall Islands, capturing the islands of Engebi in 6 hours
From Wikipedia:
Battle of Eniwetok, Marshall Islands - February 1944
Eniwetok Island is a long, narrow island, widest at the western end, and very narrow on the eastern end. A road existed on the lagoon shore on the western half of the island, where the settlement was located. This topography meant that defense in depth was impossible. On Eniwetok itself, the Japanese had 779 Army troops, 24 civilians and five naval personnel all under the command of Lt Col. Hashida Masahiro.
At 07:10 (UTC+12) on 18 February two cruisers and two destroyers opened fire on Japanese positions from the lagoon side of Eniwetok. At 07:40 (UTC+12) a third destroyer opened fire to the east of the landing beaches and at 08:10 (UTC+12) a fourth destroyer also commenced bombardment. At 08:10 (UTC+12) the naval gunfire was halted for 15 minutes to allow for a carrier aircraft attack. The first troops landed at 09:17 (UTC+12), but the initial landings immediately ran into problems. The short naval bombardment meant that many Japanese positions remained intact, and the American LVTs could not scale an 8 feet (2.4 m) sand dune just inland. These early problems were quickly overcome, and the Americans reached the ocean shore of the island by 11:45 (UTC+12). A Japanese counter-attack, carried out by 300-400 men, hit the western part of the American line, which was supported by mortar fire. The attack was over by 12:45 (UTC+12), and had failed to break the Americans.
At 14:25 (UTC+12) the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines landed to push towards the western end of the island, and by nightfall had reached the southwest corner of the island. The Marine commander, Colonel Ayers, ordered that the attack continue through the night to eliminate the Japanese pocket in the northwest corner.
The fighting in the west came to an end on the morning of 20 February; however, the island was not declared secured until 21 February. 37 Americans were killed or missing and 94 wounded. The Japanese had 800 dead and 23 prisoners.
(22nd Marines: Navy Unit Commendation, February 17 to 22, 1944)
On February 18, 1944, the 22nd Marines under the command of Colonel John T. Walker, participated in the Battle of Eniwetok, in the northwest area of the Marshall Islands, capturing the islands of Engebi in 6 hours
From Wikipedia:
Battle of Eniwetok, Marshall Islands - February 1944
Eniwetok Island is a long, narrow island, widest at the western end, and very narrow on the eastern end. A road existed on the lagoon shore on the western half of the island, where the settlement was located. This topography meant that defense in depth was impossible. On Eniwetok itself, the Japanese had 779 Army troops, 24 civilians and five naval personnel all under the command of Lt Col. Hashida Masahiro.
At 07:10 (UTC+12) on 18 February two cruisers and two destroyers opened fire on Japanese positions from the lagoon side of Eniwetok. At 07:40 (UTC+12) a third destroyer opened fire to the east of the landing beaches and at 08:10 (UTC+12) a fourth destroyer also commenced bombardment. At 08:10 (UTC+12) the naval gunfire was halted for 15 minutes to allow for a carrier aircraft attack. The first troops landed at 09:17 (UTC+12), but the initial landings immediately ran into problems. The short naval bombardment meant that many Japanese positions remained intact, and the American LVTs could not scale an 8 feet (2.4 m) sand dune just inland. These early problems were quickly overcome, and the Americans reached the ocean shore of the island by 11:45 (UTC+12). A Japanese counter-attack, carried out by 300-400 men, hit the western part of the American line, which was supported by mortar fire. The attack was over by 12:45 (UTC+12), and had failed to break the Americans.
At 14:25 (UTC+12) the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines landed to push towards the western end of the island, and by nightfall had reached the southwest corner of the island. The Marine commander, Colonel Ayers, ordered that the attack continue through the night to eliminate the Japanese pocket in the northwest corner.
The fighting in the west came to an end on the morning of 20 February; however, the island was not declared secured until 21 February. 37 Americans were killed or missing and 94 wounded. The Japanese had 800 dead and 23 prisoners.
On February 18, 1944, the 22nd Marines under the command of Colonel John T. Walker, participated in the Battle of Eniwetok, in the northwest area of the Marshall Islands, capturing the islands of Engebi in 6 hours
From Wikipedia:
Battle of Eniwetok, Marshall Islands - February 1944
Eniwetok Island is a long, narrow island, widest at the western end, and very narrow on the eastern end. A road existed on the lagoon shore on the western half of the island, where the settlement was located. This topography meant that defense in depth was impossible. On Eniwetok itself, the Japanese had 779 Army troops, 24 civilians and five naval personnel all under the command of Lt Col. Hashida Masahiro.
At 07:10 (UTC+12) on 18 February two cruisers and two destroyers opened fire on Japanese positions from the lagoon side of Eniwetok. At 07:40 (UTC+12) a third destroyer opened fire to the east of the landing beaches and at 08:10 (UTC+12) a fourth destroyer also commenced bombardment. At 08:10 (UTC+12) the naval gunfire was halted for 15 minutes to allow for a carrier aircraft attack. The first troops landed at 09:17 (UTC+12), but the initial landings immediately ran into problems. The short naval bombardment meant that many Japanese positions remained intact, and the American LVTs could not scale an 8 feet (2.4 m) sand dune just inland. These early problems were quickly overcome, and the Americans reached the ocean shore of the island by 11:45 (UTC+12). A Japanese counter-attack, carried out by 300-400 men, hit the western part of the American line, which was supported by mortar fire. The attack was over by 12:45 (UTC+12), and had failed to break the Americans.
At 14:25 (UTC+12) the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Marines landed to push towards the western end of the island, and by nightfall had reached the southwest corner of the island. The Marine commander, Colonel Ayers, ordered that the attack continue through the night to eliminate the Japanese pocket in the northwest corner.
The fighting in the west came to an end on the morning of 20 February; however, the island was not declared secured until 21 February. 37 Americans were killed or missing and 94 wounded. The Japanese had 800 dead and 23 prisoners.
Inscription
Enlisted 9-8-1942 CO G-22 US MARINES KILLED IN ACTION, MARSHALL ISLES
Gravesite Details
Burial date was 7 May 1949
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